Unmanned space mission
Unmanned space missions are those using remote-controlled spacecraft. The first such mission was the Sputnik I mission, launched October 4, 1957. Unmanned missions are often more effective in carrying out scientific and observational missions than manned space missions, due to lower cost and lower risk factors. Since the early 1970s, most unmanned space missions have been based on space probes with built-in mission computers, and as such may be classified as embedded systems.The majority American unmanned missions have been coordinated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and European missions by ESOC, part of ESA (the European Space Agency). ESA has conducted relatively few space exploration missions (one example is the Giotto mission, which encountered comet Halley). ESA has, however, launched various spacecraft to carry out astronomy, and is a collaborator with NASA on the Hubble Space Telescope.
Unmanned programs through the ages (first mission year given, if known):
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2 Earth observation satellites 3 Communication satellites 4 Lunar exploration 5 Solar System exploration 6 Supply vessels 7 See also 8 External link |
Early Earth-orbital missions
Earth observation satellites
Communication satellites
Lunar exploration
Solar System exploration
Mars Probes
Supply vessels
See also
External link